Muslim-American Files Bias Suit Against Wal-Mart

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Dearborn, Mich. An Arab- and Muslim-American man filed a $12 million lawsuit Thursday against Wal-Mart Stores, saying employees discriminated against him and fired him because of his background.

Louay Kezy is accusing Wal-Mart and three employees at its Dearborn, Mich., store of violating his civil rights through threats, harassment and dismissal after complaining about the employees' conduct.

The lawsuit uses aliases for the three employees because their full names are unknown, but it said they will be fully identified during the discovery process.

The store opened in March with the area's large Arab and Muslim population in mind. It offers hundreds of items geared toward them, such as food and music. It also opened with 35 Arabic-speaking employees—noted in Arabic script on their badges—and hired a local Arab-American educator to teach the staff cultural sensitivity.